New lab to improve Fiji's disease detection ability

The newly opened Food, Water and Leptospirosis Laboratory at the Fiji Centre for Disease Control will process up to 3000 food and water samples annually.

This will significantly improving the country’s ability to detect diseases affecting Fijians.

Minister for Health and Medical Services Ratu Atonio Lalabalavu said the laboratory would strengthen Fiji’s capacity to detect and respond to food and waterborne risks including typhoid, diarrhoeal illness and leptospirosis.

“With enhanced testing capability, advanced equipment, and trained staff, our turnaround time for detecting microbial, chemical or toxin hazards will be significantly improved,” Dr Lalabalavu said during the opening ceremony at Mataika House Complex, Tamavua this morning.

“This supports early warning, outbreak control and evidence-based decision-making.”

The laboratory renovation was made possible through funding from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA) under the Fiji SHAPE Project, with support from the World Health Organisation.

KOICA Country Director Ms Hankyulsam Cho said the establishment strengthened Fiji’s capacity to monitor diseases like leptospirosis and waterborne infections, which were increasing with climate change impacts.

WHO Regional Director Dr Saia Ma’u Piukala said KOICA invested over US$650,000 in renovating facilities and strengthening testing capacity.

“Extreme weather events increase the risk of water contamination and food-borne illnesses,” Dr Piukala said.

“Faster turnaround time to test, expanded diagnostic capacity – this is an achievement.”

Laboratory staff received advanced training at Institute Pasteur in New Caledonia and the Doherty Institute in Melbourne.

Australian DFAT Counsellor Ms Emeline Cammack said laboratories were the backbone of well-functioning public health systems.

“As Fiji adapts to a changing climate and more challenging environmental conditions, the need for high-quality surveillance, diagnostic and testing services becomes more critical,” she said.

The laboratory will serve all four divisions and integrate with Fiji’s National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System.

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